LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Sreyansh Agarwal of Lafayette lost money at a online gambling site without even placing a bet.

He was scammed, police said.

Agarwal reported Monday afternoon that he went to betonline.ag, and created an account with the betting site, as per the site's instructions. Then he authorized the site to withdraw money from his bank account by logging his account number and routing number, police said. That money was to be put into his account at betonline.ag and used for Agarwal to place bets, police said.

True to its word, betonline.ag took the money out, but when Agarwal returned to the gambling site to place a bet, it did not recognize the account he created and asked him to open an account, police said.

The website is a front, police said, suspecting the site asks people to create accounts, takes their money, then when the victims return to try to bet, the site prompts them to open an account, police said.

Lafayette police Lt. Scott Galloway said there is little police can do with these types of crime, and he cautioned people to use caution with internet transactions.